Nut-lock



(No Model.)

I J. W. WATSON & R. P. RANDOLPH.

NUT LOCK.

Patented June 24; 1890.

rd a 4 w m l Max a m/mm; m lsnl )UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

JAMES W. WATSON'AFTD RICHARD F. RANDOLPH, OF ACHOR, OHIO.

NUT-LOCK.

l SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 430,715, dated June 24, 1890.

' I Application filed April 12, 1890.2 Serial N0.34='7,7Z7. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JAMES WV. WATSON and RICHARD F. RANDOLPH, citizens of the United States, residing at Achor, in the county of Columbiana and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Nut-Lock, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to nutlocks; and the objects of the invention are to provide a nut-lock of extremely cheap and inexpensive construction, adapted to be applied to any of the usual forms of bolts and nuts now in use, and to be safe and secure in its operation and incapable of being jarred off by passing trains.

With these general objects in view the invention consists in certain features of construction hereinafter specified, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a railroad joint, the nuts of which are provided with locks constructed in accordance with our invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the rail and one of the bolts. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail in perspective of the lock-plate. Fig. 4 is a perspective in detail of the look or tie-wire. Fig. 5 is a detail in section of the locking-plate, the tie-wire in position. Fig.6 is a detail plan view of the lock-plate with the tie-wire in position.

Like numerals indicate like parts in all the figures.

1 represents the opposite rails, the ends of which abut and are connected bya fish-plate 2, the rails and fish-plate having bolt'openings 3 for the reception of the usual bolts 4, provided with nuts 5, all of the ordinary construction.

6 represents the lock-plate, which is concaved or dish-shaped and provided with an opening 7, adapted to loosely fit the threaded end of the bolt. Previous to mounting the lock-plate 6 upon the bolt the tie-wire 9, which is of a size in cross-section slightly smaller than the space between the threads of the bolt, is looped, as at 10, to form opposite terminals 11, which terminals are crossed, so that in reality the tie-wire forms a portion of a spiral coil. The coil or eye of the wire is designed to snugly fit between the threads 3 of the bolt, and the terminals 11 are bent at their extremities and inserted through a pair of perforations 12, formed in the lock-plate, after which said extremities are headed, as at- 13, upon the reversed side of the lock-plate.

1a represents an ordinary washer, which I first mount upon the bolt and over the nut,

said washer being designed to obviate in a measure the backpressure or effect of the nut upon the lock-plate. After the washer has been placed in position the lock-plate is screwed upon the bolt and against the washer, the tie -wire (which is preferably resilient) acting as ordinary threads by reason of the coiled f0r1n.- The opposite sides or edges of the locking-plate are flattened, as at 15, to receive an ordinary wrench, and in this manner the locking-plate is tightened against the nut, and when released the back-pressure of the nut-washer and lock-plate will serve to most ettectually press the wire against the rear edges or faces of the threads engaged by said wire. The terminals of the wire may be lapped in either directionthat is, either terminal may be the under oneand in this way the tie-wire adapted for right or left hand threaded bolts, as will be readily understood. No amount of jarring can possibly shake the locking-plate so as to make the same rotate from oft the bolt, the wire serving to bind the locking-plate snugly in its position; but by the application of an ordinary wrench it will be observed that the locking-plate may be removed after the manner of an ordinary nut.

From the above description it will be apparent that we have provided an extremely cheap and simply-constructed nut-lock, one capable of being applied to the usual bolts now in use without any change Whatever of the same, and which lock is absolutely safe and inseparable from the bolt unless operated by a tool calculated for such office.

Having described our invention, what we claim is 1. The herein-described nut-lock, comprising a locking-plate having a bolt receiving opening, and a locking-wire bent to form a coil concentric with the opening and having its terminals inserted in perforations formed in the plate and headed in rear of said plate, substantially as specified.

2. The herein-described nut-lock, comprising a locking-plate the edges of which are square to receive a wrench, and said plate being centrally perforated for the reception of a bolt, and a tie-wire formed of spring metal and coiled to form thread-engaging portions concentric with the opening in the plate, the terminals of the tie crossing each other, and at their extremities bent and clamped through perforations in the plate and headed upon the reversed side of said plate, substantially as specified.

3. The c'ombination,with the rails, the fishplate, the bolt, and the nut, of a washer mounted upon the bolt in front of the nut, and the concaved perforated locking-plate mounted in front of the Washer upon the bolt, and the tie or locking-wire coiled to engage the threads of the bolt, and having its terminals crossed and passed through openings in the locking-plate and headed upon the reversed side of the plate, substantially as specified.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto affiXed our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES W. WATSON. RICHARD F. RANDOLPH. WVitnesses:

JONATHAN F. RANDOLPH, LoUIs S. FITZ RANDOLPH. 

